‘It’s traumatizing’: Garfield High students shaken after classmate killed in Yakima
Apr 21, 2025, 12:31 PM | Updated: 5:34 pm
Garfield High School memorial. (Photo: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio)
(Photo: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio)
A Garfield High School student was shot and killed over the weekend in Yakima. He is the second student from Garfield High to die from gun violence in less than a year.
Monday evening on campus, a candlelight vigil was held to celebrate and mourn the life of 18-year-old senior Salvador “Junior” Granillo. Garfield faculty member Michelle Reese expressed the emotions felt around the incident.
“For me, it’s coming here and looking at the students’ faces because they want answers, and they also know we don’t have any. It’s traumatizing,” she said.
The Garfield Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) gave its condolences.
“Another loss of another precious person in our school community is devastating,” Garfield PTSA wrote on Facebook. “Holding his family, friends, and everyone who knew and loved Salvador in our hearts. Holding all GHS students, teachers, staff, and families in our hearts, too.”
On Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., a Garfield High School teacher, Razas Unidas, will be collecting flowers to honor Granillo’s life.
Garfield High School student killed in Yakima
RELATED STORIES
Granillo was allegedly shot and killed while attending a party in Yakima in the 1500 block of South Keys Road. Detectives with the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office were informed about a gunshot victim at MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday. Granillo died at the hospital.
Detectives identified the suspect as Israel Barriga Vargas, 21, of Yakima. They allegedly fled the shooting in a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. The vehicle had a Washington license plate that read CRH8859, according to The Seattle Times, and is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (509) 574-2500 or (800) 572-0490.
Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest; James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio
Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.
